Community supports family of Newtown victim at Daniel Barden Mudfest in Deansboro (Videos)

DEANSBORO >> Communities came together Saturday for the Daniel Barden Mudfest at MKJ Farms. Teams were assembled and registered to win, but the afternoon was full of teamwork and helping hands as people struggled through the course.

Daniel Barden was one of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting that took place in December in Newtown, Conn. The seven-year-old was remembered fondly by neighbors and friends as a spirited young athlete full of energy.

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"What we are doing here is just a small representation of who Daniel was," said Dan Williams, a family friend of the Bardens who helped organize the Mud Run. "I want to thank everyone that came out to show their support."

Williams said he remembered playing soccer with Daniel, his sister Karin Lablanca's neighbor. He said he could barely keep up with the young soccer player.

Daniel's older brother James and his soccer team, the Mac Titans, made the four-hour trip to Deansboro to run in memory of the first-grader and his schoolmates.

"This soccer team is almost like a family," said parent team member Trevor Oltran. "When everything happened, it just brought all of us so much closer together. We are here to support our family."

Bill Marris and the Burrow Hillbillies from Deansboro where enjoying themselves before the race. Marris, along with the rest of his ragtag crew, said they were there to support event coordinator Jessica Poyer and her brother, along with the Bardens. The group wasn't afraid of the course, just the ambulance ride that might be awaiting them on the other end.

"We're here to help keep the memory of those kids alive," Marris said. "But, we're here to enjoy the day as well, just like everyone else."

Marris and the rest of his team have collectively raised more than $700 for the event.

The Oriskany Falls VFW provided a chicken barbecue for attendees and Saranac Brewery handled beer and other drinks for runners and watchers alike.

The course was lined with hollowed out logs, each lit at the start of the race, pouring smoke over the area. The Irish pipe band began playing as runners gathered toward the starting area.

As the runners lined up for the first heat, Williams shouted "work together and help each other out!" Teams helped each other over the first obstacle, a five foot wooden wall.

After struggling through numerous obstacles on the three mile course, including walls, culverts, hills and belly crawls, two of the first finishers were Sam Price from West Winfield and Jake Wratten from North Brookfield. Both finished the course in under 40 minutes.

The two said the course was extremely fun, and a great, cheap alternative to events like the Spartan Run. Both Wratten and Price agreed with most of the runners that the belly crawl through frigid water was the most difficult part of the course.

Wratten said he has spent upwards of $100 for similar events, whereas the Mud Run was not only cheaper at $55, but went to a great cause.

"The money goes to charity, and that's awesome," Wratten said. "It's great that we have something like this in our area. It not only helps the charity, but all of these travelers will help local businesses, too."

"People really seem to be enjoying themselves. It's amazing seeing the community come out and support something like this," said organizer Poyer. More than 50 teams participated, some with up to 50 members and plenty of solo runners at the event. Overall, she said around 1,000 people came out to run before 10 a.m.

"I think a lot of people came out for the Bardens and their friends," Poyer said. "If you know that family, you love that family."